The Bayelsa government on Wednesday said it did not
establish a cattle colony in the state but integrated a grazing site in the
Bayelsa Palm Estate in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Mr Dode Wigg Commissioner for Agriculture in Bayelsa gave
the explanation during the Inter-Ministerial interactive session with
stakeholders as part of the 6th Anniversary of Gov Dickson led
administration in the state.
The Commissioner noted that the state adopted the ranch
option and made available 250 acres of land cultivated with fodder grass for
grazing to discourage open grazing and avoid clashes between farmers and
herdsmen.
He said that the ranch concept within the Bayelsa Palm
Estate will ensure that the droppings from the cattle would provide natural
fertilizer for the palm trees adding that the state government retained whole
ownership of the Esatate.
“We did not sell the Bayelsa Palm Estate to herdsmen or
to anyone, what we did was to concession the Palm Estate to a private concern
and we are reaping from that commercialization policy.
“On a monthly basis rather than inject money into the
running of the estate , the state generates revenue and that has been
consistent as the concessionaire has kept to the terms of the concession
agreement.
“Also the Bayelsa Palm is not a cattle colony, it is a
ranch concept with provision for a diary farm, cattle breeding, abattoir as
well as cattle market, it is meant to check open grazing and allowing cattle to
roam around.
“The ranch remains wholly owned by Bayelsa government, it
was not given to herdsmen and it is not a holden area, it is a grazing area and
that is wat we did with Bayelsa Palm,” Wigg said.
Earlier, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Bayelsa Commissioner
for Information reiterated the state government’s commitment to self
sufficiency in food production.
He said that the food security policy of the government
was anchored on empowering the state ministry of agriculture to support farmers
with improved seedlings and appropriate farming techniques.
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